America has a fatigue problem. Whether from our work schedules, school demands, family life or any of the other commitments we’ve made along the way, too many of us feel overworked and under rested more often than we probably should.
It’s become such a problem, in fact, that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has created a Center for Work and Fatigue Research to study causes and find solutions. In dealing with exhaustion and lack of sufficient sleep, we often have to deal with many of the accompanying symptoms, high among them being dark circles under our eyes.
What causes dark circles under eyes?
Dark circles, or “bags” as they are sometimes called, are caused for many reasons beyond fatigue and are a common complaint for people of all ages. Though such marks under one’s eyes are not usually a sign of a medical condition, per Mayo Clinic, they can be a symptom of certain problems that need to be addressed. “Broken blood vessels, tear troughs and bulging valves in the skin can result in dark circles under one’s eyes,” says Mary Stevenson, MD, associate professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Health. Such symptoms may also be associated with age, she says.
F. Clarissa Yang, MD, a professor of dermatology at Tufts University School of Medicine and the Dermatologist in Chief at Tufts Medical Center, agrees that dark circles are frequently associated with getting older. “As we age, there is thinning of the skin with loss of collagen and fat that surrounds the blood vessels and thus they become more prominent with time,” she explains. She adds that aging can also cause a “bunching of loosened tissue under the eyes” that may accentuate any darker pigmentation.
Another common cause of dark circles are allergies. Allergy-induced inflammation causes both puffiness and the urge to soothe itchiness by rubbing one’s eyes. That can result in micro blood vessel ruptures and subsequent bruising. “As these bruises heal, they leave behind a trail of pigmented hemosiderin, a component of hemoglobin responsible for those unsightly under-eye dark marks,” explains Inna Lazar, OD, a Connecticut-based optometrist and founder of Greenwich Eye Care.
Lazar says sun exposure and harmful UV rays can prompt one’s body to produce more melanin − the pigment that provides one’s skin with its color. “This can lead to hyperpigmentation and, subsequently, dark under-eye circles,” she explains. She adds that such darkening is especially pronounced in the delicate skin beneath the eyes, “making UV damage a significant contributor to the appearance of these undesirable marks.”
Other culprits include dehydration as the delicate skin around one’s eyes shrink due to insufficient water content, genetics as “a family trait passed down through generations,” Lazar says, skin conditions like dermatitis, and may also be a symptom of medical conditions such as anemia, hypothyroidism and specific metabolic syndromes.
Do any deficiencies cause dark circles?
While Lazar says that malnutrition and a lack of essential vitamins “can be the unsuspected contributors to these darkened halos,” the most common deficiency contributing to them is not getting enough sleep. Indeed, Mayo Clinic notes that “sleep deficiency” is the “most common” cause of the dark circles under one’s eyes.
Lack of sleep prevents muscle relaxation “and causes vascular dilation and puffy eyes,” explains Yang. Lazar says the problem is further compounded when “sleep deprivation and fatigue manifest on your skin, making it appear paler and the underlying dark tissue more noticeable.”
How do I get dark circles to go away?
Knowing how such factors contribute to dark circles is important, but learning ways to deal with them can also be helpful. For example, Yang says it’s wise to “target any known cause” of the condition, when possible. Dark circles related to vitamin deficiencies, dehydration and sleep deprivation, for instance, can be improved with a healthy diet, drinking adequate amounts of water and by catching more Zs.
Beauty products and topical applications can help, too. “I recommend topical products containing retinol or vitamin C,” suggests Lazar. Stevenson similarly recommends “creams that target pigmentation” and adds that gently massaging the surrounding area “can move the gathered fluid and reduce the appearance of dark circles.” Lazar says cold compresses can be helpful as well. “Applying cold compresses to the eyes area for 10-15 minutes can temporarily minimize the appearance of dark circles by constricting blood vessels,” she explains.
More:Is vitamin C serum all it’s cracked up to be?
For more stubborn cases, Yang says laser treatments may be beneficial. Shilpi Khetarpal, MD, a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic, advises that in certain cases, one can also look at FDA-approved hyaluronic acid fillers (Juvaderm Volbella and Restylane Eyelight) that target the region. “These can address the volume loss,” she says. “Daily topical vitamin C and sunscreen should be used to protect the face and eye region from daily exposure,” she adds.
And following one or more of these suggestions at a time may also be necessary. “Many times, dark circles are multifactorial and need to be treated with a combination approach,” says Khetarpal.
